57. It's where HE started and a full circle back with gratitude for everything Chicago means.

There were tough times there and good times. It's the place he and Michelle call home.

It's where Harold Washington fought the same tough battles as Obama and FINALLY won.

It's where life is hard and beautiful.

It's where if you walk from neighborhood to neighborhood you see a lot of wonderful people willing to work, willing to heal but in the economy we have now sometimes unable to do either.

And he is SO grateful to his supporters and these guys have a special place in his heart. They DO remind him of himself (IF he'd had someone like an Obama to look up to for guidance.)

He'd just successfully paved the way for kids like these to do even more. Like a parent knowing that you've been able to do SOME things to make your kids lives better, it suddenly becomes "worth it" to have faced the pain and struggles that ALMOST but DID NOT destroy you. It was a hard fought battle and here was one important reminder of why he started it in the first place.